Omar to stay CM, is backed by Rahul

The Cabinet Committee on Security may have spoken of a “trust and governance deficit” in Jammu and Kashmir after its meeting on Tuesday, but on Thursday Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi firmly threw his weight behind Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Gandhi said Omar must be given more time and support. “Kashmir is a difficult place. Omar is doing a tough job and he should be given time and support,’’ he said.

There have been demands from parties like the BJP and Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Omar’s resignation.

The dates of the all-party delegation’s visit to the trouble-torn state were also finalised on Thursday, for September 20 and 21.

Privately, Congressmen ruled out any change of guard in the state, specially at this juncture, while pointing out that it was for the National Conference (NC) to decide who should be its leader. “Let the all-party delegation come back with inputs,’’ said a party leader, noting that the visit was expected to also signal India’s united response to the Kashmir situation.

In Delhi, NC leader Farooq Abdullah — Omar’s father — ruled out his son’s resignation. “Omar Abdullah has no intention of stepping down, nor is there any such move being made,’’ he said.